The Tszyu family can be the greatest, says Johnny Lewis
Convinced Tim Tszyu will cruise past Bakhram Murtazaliev and capture the IBF super-welterweight crown, training legend Johnny Lewis believes even greater things are in store for Australian boxing’s royal family.
Tszyu is determined that he and unbeaten younger brother Nikita should follow in their Hall of Famer father Kostya’s footsteps to create an unrivalled family legacy.
“Mark my words, the last name Tszyu will live on as the greatest boxing family name ever when me and my brother are done with this,” Tszyu said ahead of Sunday’s do-or-die showdown in Florida.
And Lewis is adamant that can happen.
“They’re marvellous, mate. Marvellous,” Lewis told AAP.
While Tszyu can match Kostya as a two-time world champion with victory over Murtazaliev at the Caribe Royale resort in Orlando, Lewis believes 26-year-old Nikita is also a world champ in waiting.
“I just love Nikita. He just wins,” Lewis said.
“He just makes good fights. He comes back from being behind. He’s a very, very game fighter. Very game.
“I do think he can be a world champion. I really like him.”
First things first, though, and Tim needs to take care of the unbeaten Murtazaliev to regain his world champion status after having his WBO belt cruelly snatched away in a bloody, controversial split-decision loss to Sebastian Fundora in March.
Lewis has no doubts he will.
“This Russian is as good as most of the fighters he’s fought but I think Tim can win and do it easily. He looks fresh.
“I’ve got no doubt Tim will work this guy out and I think Tim will stop him.
“He’s dominating the division and I don’t think there’s any wonder. He’s definitely the best at the moment.”
Tszyu is eyeing mega-money fights with the super-welterweight superstars like Jermell Charlo, Errol Spence and pound-for-pound king Terence Crawford.
But Lewis, who sat in Kostya’s corner as the Russian-born star rose to become one of Australia’s greatest two pugilists alongside Jeff Fenech, fears the big guns are dodging the Sydney slayer.
“I’d like to see him have a crack at the middleweights later,” he said.
“But why do you want to fight bigger blokes all the time? He’s very much proportioned to being a light-middleweight.
“But if they’re not going to fight him, he may have to fight some middleweights to gain the ascendancy.”
Headlining the first-ever Amazon Prime free-to-air fight night, Tszyu is expected to enter the ring about 12.30pm AEDT on Sunday.
His countryman and great mate Mateo Tapia is up against Venezuelan Endry Saavedra in the first bout of the televised component beaming back to Australia and millions around the world.
The Florida-based Tapia, who grew up in Sydney and has spent hundreds of rounds sparring with Tszyu, is undefeated in his climb through the middleweight ranks and chasing his own world title shot.
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